FERNDALE, Wash. — Last night’s City Council Meeting was the first regular council meeting for newly elected Councilmembers Ryan O’Larey and Ramon Llanos. Both were sworn in at the November 27th special council meeting.
In preparation of end of the year reports to the Whatcom County Assessor, the City Council held the final 2020 budget public comment period. No comments were made, and the council voted unanimously to approve the 2020 budget.
Council held an open comment period for the proposed utility rate increase. No members of the public shared a comment. Council will vote at the December 18th meeting.
Council voted 5 to 0 to approve the Fountain Place Catalyst Project. Council Member Llanos recused himself from the vote, as he is the Civil Engineer for the project. The Fountain Place, as presented, will transform the entry into downtown Ferndale.
It is transformative in taking an existing 1.5+/- acre site with 2500 square feet of retail and converting it to over 16,091 square feet of commercial and adding 119 residences for a total of over 188,000 square feet. It will also extend and expand public space. Fountain Place Catalyst Project Staff Report – December 2, 2019
The Fountain Place, if additional approvals are met, must be constructed by May 1, 2022 unless changed by the city council. Full details on the project are available in a 70+ page PDF file provided by the City.
I am very excited to see Fountain Place take shape. It will transform the entrance to our little city and hopefully move us toward the vibrant and lively downtown area we all have been wanting. It is the hope that these catalyst projects will also spur new investment into our city and prepare us for the next 100 years!
Seems like a great idea to put that much retail space and 118 apartment units at the intersection where the city removed the traffic lights to help with downtown congestion.